Current research: towards a cure for Parkinson's

Researcher We are currently funding 30 research projects worth almost £4million exploring new treatments for Parkinson's including stem cells and gene therapy.

We're committed to developing new and better treatments for Parkinson's and, ultimately, a cure.

Here are details of some of the research projects we are funding in this area.

Stem cell research projects

Stem cell therapies offer great hope to people with Parkinson's. The aim is to replace the nerve cells lost in Parkinson's with healthy new cells.

Find out more about our stem cell research projects.

Can we predict Parkinson's?

Dr Alastair Noyce, University of London
£35,000 over 12 months
Start date: April 2011
Innovation grant: K-1006

Alastair's project aims to develop tests that may one day be able to predict Parkinson's. Healthy older people who don't have Parkinson's will do online tests to help identify the earliest symptoms of Parkinson's.

Can we predict Parkinson's? - more information and how to take part

Can we predict Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 288KB)

Targeting proteins - towards new treatments for Parkinson's

Professor Christopher Moody, University of Nottingham
£120,894 over 2 years
Start date: October 2010
Project grant: G-1002

This project aims to develop new and better drugs for Parkinson's that work by preventing the build up of misfolded proteins inside the nerve cells that die in Parkinson's.

Targeting proteins - towards new treatments for Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 102KB)

Putting a stop to dyskinesia

Dr Riccardo Brambilla, University of Cardiff
£251,496 over 3 years
Start date: May 2010
Project grant: G-1001

Riccardo is investigating whether reducing nerve cell activity - by interfering with a chain of events inside nerve cells called the Ras-ERK pathway - can prevent or reduce dyskinesia.

Putting a stop to dyskinesia - research project summary (PDF, 177KB)

Developing a test to monitor the early signs of Parkinson's

Dr Richard Wade-Martins, University of Oxford
£34,999 over 12 months
Start date: December 2010
Innovation grant: K-1003

Richard wants to develop tests that can help us spot people at risk of Parkinson's at the earliest possible stage - giving us the best possible chance to stop the condition in its tracks.

Developing a test to monitor the early signs of Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 341KB)

LRRK2 may provide a target for new treatments for Parkinson's

Dr Patrick Lewis, University College London
£250,000 over 3 years
Start date: October 2010
Career development award: F-1002

LRRK2 is one of the most common genes linked to Parkinson's. Patrick's project aims to figure out how LRRK2 works and find ways to change it - which could lead to new treatments.

LRRK2 may provide a target for new treatments for Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 382KB)

Can reducing inflammation protect dopamine nerve cells?

Dr Peter Teismann, University of Aberdeen
£34,989 over 12 months
Start date: September 2010
Innovation grant: K-1001

Peter's project will tell us more about how inflammation is involved in Parkinson's. And it may reveal targets for new and better drugs.

Can reducing inflammation protect dopamine nerve cells - research project summary (PDF 157KB)

Can CDNF stop dopamine nerve cell death?

Dr Maeve Caldwell, University of Bristol
£216,686 over 3 years
Start date: April 2010
Project grant: G-0915

Maeve wants to know if CDNF - a natural protein that helps nerve cells to grow and survive - could be used to protect new nerve cells transplanted into the Parkinson's brain.

Can CDNF stop dopamine nerve cell death? - research project summary (PDF, 192KB)

Stopping nerve cell over-activity: a new drug target for Parkinson's

Dr Susan Jones, University of Cambridge
£91,455 over 3 years
Start date: October 2009
Studentship: H-0902

Susan's project will investigate how the nerve cells involved in Parkinson's deal with the chemical glutamate in the brain. Finding ways to fine-tune glutamate signalling could lead to new and treatments for Parkinson's.

Stopping nerve cell over-activity: a new drug target for Parkinson's - year 1 progress report (PDF, 162KB)

Preventing the build up of proteins inside nerve cells

Professor Christopher Dobson, University of Cambridge
£92,154 over 3 years
Start date: April 2010
Studentship: H-0903

Christopher's research will investigate how and why sticky protein clumps form inside nerve cells in Parkinson's. It will explore ways to prevent this happening - which could lead to new and better treatments.

Can we personalise treatment for Parkinson's?

Dr Ashwani Jha, Institute of Neurology, London
£173,953 over 3 years
Start date: June 2009
Training fellowship: F-0903

Ashwani's project will use cutting edge techniques to explore whether it's possible to tailor Parkinson's treatments to tackle the specific collection of symptoms each individual experiences.

Can we personalise treatment for Parkinson's? - year 1 progress report (PDF, 178KB)

Can alpha-synuclein help us diagnose Parkinson's earlier?

Dr Bazbek Davletov, University of Cambridge
£99,946 over 2 years
Start date: June 2009
Project grant: G-0903

Bazbek is investigating how the alpha-synuclein protein affects the amount of dopamine that nerve cells use, and whether this is involved in nerve cell death.

Can alpha-synuclein help us diagnose Parkinson's earlier? - research project summary (PDF, 158KB)

Can nicotine treat Parkinson's?

Dr Stephanie Cragg, University of Oxford
£177,041 over 3 years
Start date: September 2008
Project grant: G-0803

Stephanie's team is investigating whether nicotine-like drugs can boost dopamine production and help nerve cells survive in Parkinson's.

Can nicotine treat Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 153KB)

A new way of controlling dyskinesia?

Professor Peter Jenner, Kings College London
£171,011 over 3 years
Start date: July 2008
Project grant: G-0804

Peter hopes to prevent dyskinesia - the uncontrollable movements that affect many people with Parkinson's - by developing drugs that can reduce the levels of nitric oxide inside the brain.

A new way of controlling dyskinesia? - research project summary (PDF, 259KB)